Method and apparatus for cleaning clams

ABSTRACT

A method of removing undesirable parts of clam or extracting selected parts for specific purposes such as for removing the liver, or a similar area, includes applying substantially uniform biasing pressure to the clam gradually over selected areas and proceeding in a manner and in a direction to force the part chosen for removal to move in the force applying direction gradually away from the remaining portions of the clam. An apparatus for carrying out the method of the invention comprises a receiving surface or table having a guide outline over which the clam may be positioned and which is associated with a plurality of movable members for example, rodlike weights. The weights are suspended on an apparatus for example, a rotatable tilted disk mounted above the table and each is of a length selected to bring the associated weight into engagement with a selected area of the clam placed on the table in a succession, in respect to all of the other weights, which will cause the gradual applying of the weights in a direction to cause the disassociation of a certain part of the clam from the remainder. The tilted disk which carries the rods advantageously supports the rods for vertical displaceable movement and during the rotation of the disk with the table from a position at which the rods are supported well above the clam to the lowermost position of the tilted disk. The rods move into successive engagement with the clam and force the movement of the undesired part of the clam away from all of the rest of the clam and without damaging the clam. Additional severing means may sometimes be necessary for cutting away the connecting tissues of the removed part.

United States Patent Snow [ Mar. 7, 1972 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING CLAMS Primary Examiner-Lucie H. Laudenslager Altomey-George P. Maskas, Edward L. Mandell and George A. Kap

[57] ABSTRACT A method of removing undesirable parts of clam or extracting selected parts for specific purposes such as for removing the liver, or a similar area, includes applying substantially uniform biasing pressure to the clam gradually over selected areas and proceeding in a manner and in a direction to force the part chosen for removal to move in the force applying direction gradually away from the remaining portions of the clam. An apparatus for carrying out the method of the invention comprises a receiving surface or table having a guide outline over which the clam may be positioned and which is associated with a plurality of movable members for example, rodlike weights. The weights are suspended on an apparatus for example, a rotatable tilted disk mounted above the table and each is of a length selected to bring the associated weight into engagement with a selected area of the clam placed on the table in a succession, in respect to all of the other weights, which will cause the gradual applying of the weights in a direction to cause the disassociation of a certain part of the clam from the remainder. The tilted disk which carries the rods advantageously supports the rods for vertical displaceable movement and during the rotation of the disk with the table from a position at which the rods are supported well above the clam to the lowemiost position of the tilted disk. The rods move into successive engagement with the clam and force the movement of the undesired part of the clam away from all of the rest of the clam and without damaging the clam. Additional severing means may sometimes be necessary for cutting away the connecting tissues of the removed part.

21 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAR 71972 3,646,638

sum 1 [1F 7 INVENTOR H AROLD F. SNOW ATTORNEY PATENTEDMAR 7 I972 3,646,638

SHEET 2 [IF 7 INVENTOR HARDLD F. SNOW BY 7W NEY PATENTEUMAR 7 I972 sum 3 [IF 7 FIG.5

INVENTOR D F. SNOW B TTORNEY PATENTEDMAR 71972 3,646,638

SHEEI 4 [IF 7 FIG.8 3 \'b Ya T r,

INVENTOR.

HAROLD F. SNOW BY fimw TTORNEY PATENTEDHAR 71972 3,646,638

SHEET 5 BF 7 INVL ENTOR HAROLD F. SNOW BY m /fmm/y ATTORNEY PAIENTEBMAR 7 I972 SHEET 8 [1F 7 FIG.|4

PATENTEDMAR 7 I972 sum 7 or 7 mane TABLE smucwmsm FIG.|9

INVENTOR HAROLD F. snow 21 I- 07 M METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING CLAMS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to a method and apparatus for selectively dissecting a portion of a tissue from the remainder and in particular, to a new and useful method and device for selectively removing a portion of a clam.

In many instances, it is desirable, in the processing of sea food and particularly clams, to extract a portion of the clam in order, for example, that this portion may not discolor food products such as soups, or for the purpose of selecting this portion for selected usage. In respect to clams it is sometimes necessary or desirable to remove portions of the clam classed as viscera which comprises mainly the liver, the digestive system, and the intestinal tract. Attempts to perform the operation entirely manually is both expensive and unsatisfactory. Heretofore, the extracting or cleaning of the clam has always been performed by hand in which case the clam meats after having been shucked or removed from their shells are washed in water to rid them of most of the sand and the loose shell fragments associated with them. After this, the drained meals are placed before persons who take each clam into their hands and remove the undesirable parts of the meat either by squeezing the undesirable parts out of the abdominal sack or tearing off the entire sack area. When the former method is employed, there is the difficulty that there is a failure to remove the entire contents of the abdominal sack and when the latter method is used, although it generally affords a more complete removal of the contents, nevertheless, there is a loss of a substantial amount of the available meat of the clam. The term liver is usually referred to as the entire abdominal sack contents because most of the portion of the contents which are removed includes the liver. The disadvantages of the manual cleaning of clams is that it is difficult to train workers to develop a suitable degree of proficiency in cleaning until after a long period of employment at such tasks. There is the likelihood that the hands of the workers become injured because of cuts from the sharp shell fragments which are still retained by the clam meat. The productivity which is achieved by the manual methods is very low and thus the costs are high.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an improved method for extracting a portion, such as a liver, from a clam, which comprises engaging the clam by pressure contact over a plurality of relatively small areas proceeding in succession from the areas of the clam which are removed from the parts to be cut away and thereupon gradually effecting pressure engagement over the clam proceeding toward the area to be removed in order to force it outwardly from the remaining portion of the clam and to effect the separation thereof.

The invention also provides an improved device for removing a portion of a clam or similar article which comprises a plurality of members which are mounted for movement to engage the clam each over a selected area, and means for controlling the movement of the members so that they engage the clam successively in a manner proceeding toward the part to be removed so that this part is contacted last and after it is urged outwardly from the remaining portion of the clam in the form of a squeezing action which directs the part to be removed outwardly.

An improved apparatus for dissecting elements such as clams comprises a rotatable support table having a guide area for facilitating the positioning of the part to be dissected and which is mounted for rotation along with a tilted rod member support disk. The support disk carries a plurality of engagement elements in the form of rods having a uniform weight, for example of 1 pound, and which are suspended in guideways or slots on the disk so that they move vertically. The clams to be treated are positioned on the guide area of the table and the table is rotated with the disk. The rods are positioned such that when the disk rotates to position the rod cluster toward the lowermost part thereof, individual ones of the rods begin contacting the clam. The contact arrangement is such that the weight of the rods urges the part to be dissected outwardly away from the remaining parts and at a location in which engagement of all the rods is completed. The part to be removed is moved inwardly in respect to the associated table to position this part so that it will drop into a receiving chute. If necessary, the tissues which still connect the part to be removed with the remaining parts of the clam are cut away by suitable knife means.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved method for removing a portion of a tissue of an article such as a clam which comprises engaging the article over a plurality of small areas thereof and initially at a location removed from the part which is to be removed from the article and thereafter progressively engaging the article proceeding in a direction toward the affected part in order to squeeze the part out of the remaining part.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for removing parts of elements such as clams which includes a plurality of members which are engageable with the clam over selected areas and means mounting said members to permit them to be moved selectively into engagement with the clam and apply a progressively moving pressure on the clam to force a selected part thereof away from the remainder.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for severing parts of clam elements which is simple in design, rugged in construction, and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a clam which is to be treated in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section similar to FIG. 2 but with the liver removed;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a portion of an operation table showing one embodiment for engaging the clams successively over defined areas in order to provide removal of the liver therefrom;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial elevational and partial sectional view showing a clam positioned on an operation table similar to FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the claim in solid lines before the application of force and in broken lines the contour of the clam after the application of force by weight rods, said force applied progressively in the direction of the arrows toward the edge of the table and rotating knife which severs any connecting tissue of the clam to the discarded liver.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the remaining portion of the clam with the removal operation completed;

FIG. 8 is a vertical axial sectional view of an apparatus for removing parts of elements from an article such as a clam constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the rod carrying disk shown in FIG. 8 taken along the line 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a section taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the engagement bars or weight bars;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the bar shown in FIG. 1 1;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged top plan view taken in the direction of the arrows l3l3 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 14 is a section taken along the line 14-14 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a positioning stop;

FIG. 16 is a partial side elevational view of another embodiment of weight bar;

FIG. 17 is a partial sectional view through the sector assembly showing the supporting rod and cam grip;

FIG. 18 is a partial sectional view similar to FIG. 8 of another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 19 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the sector as sembly showing the position it will assume along the elements C and B of FIG. 18.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings in particular, the method of the invention provides a means for removing selected parts from a clam generally designated 10. The clam 10 ready for cleaning is of generally oval shape, as indicated in FIG. 1, and it is of a size which ranges from about 3 to inches in length and about 2% to 4 inches in width with a thickness of about from of an inch to 1% inches. The clam is composed of a number of distinct parts which are rather weakly joined together by connecting tissues. The largest part 12 is commonly referred to as the tongue and comprises roughly one-half of the uncleaned clam. The clam 10 includes two abductor muscles 14, 14 at respective opposite ends on each end of an abdominal sac area 16. The sac area 16 contains the liver 18 as shown in FIG. 2. The roe 20 is also shown in FIG. 2. Other parts of the clam include two rims or straps 24, 24, a root 26, and a syphon 28. The abdominal sac 16 is substantially open at the root 26 and it is this area which is attached to the clam shell. The wall of the sac cavity 16 increases in thickness progressively toward the central portion of the clam. The liver 18 is a dark colored mass which is very soft and easily crushed yet contains a weblike structure of connective tissues which tend to preserve the original shape of the mass during the removal except under substantial stresses. The other parts of the clam are relatively firm and can tolerate far greater stresses without shearing of the tissue. The texture difference between the liver 18 and the remaining portion of the clam makes possible the use of mechanical force to press the liver from its sac in accordance with the invention. The clam 10 shown in FIG. 3, is one in which the liver 18 has already been removed.

In accordance with the method of the invention the clam 10 which is to be treated in order to remove, for example, a part such as the liver 18 is positioned over a guide area generally designated 30(FIG. 4) which in the embodiment shown comprises a plurality of small rectangular pressure areas 32 each given a numerical designation extending from the number I up to the number 10. Each guide area 32 indicates an area of potential engagement of the clam, for example, by force applying or engagement means which may be applied to the clam after it is positioned for example, over a clam outline or within a clam outline 34 which is defined on a table 36.

In accordance with the invention, a clam I0 centered within the outline 34 is engaged at the individual small areas 32 by a selective force applying device or weight which is applied successively in the numerical order designated by the individual numerals, l, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc. It can be seen from FIG. 4, that the first engagement of the clam is in the tongue area 12 and the rim areas 24 as well as the siphon area 28 defined around the periphery of the clam at a location removed from the abdominal area 16. Gradually engagement force is applied in the areas marked 2, 3, etc., within the outline 34 progressively in a manner which will cause a liver which is positioned in the abdominal sac area to be squeezed in a direction indicated by the arrow 38. In this manner the liver 18 is systematically and effectively removed from the remainder of the clam meat.

A clam 10 as indicated in FIG. 5, with the liver 18 shown in the dotted line area is treated in accordance with the method of the invention, for example, by a plurality of different engagement members or force rods 40 which have engagement areas corresponding to the areas 32 of FIG. 4. In a preferred form, these engagement members 40 comprise individual rod elements of a predetermined weight, for example, I pound each, which bear downwardly against the clam I0 and in the final position, they assume an outline such as indicated in FIG. 6 after the liver 18 has been removed. The weight of the engagement members 40 is for example, such that they will rest against the remaining meat portion of the clam as shown in FIG. 6. The rods 40 are engaged with the clam successively in the numerical order indicated by the numbers within the individual areas 32 of FIG. 4.

In some instances, it is necessary to sever the liver 18 from the remaining portion of the clam 10 after it has been squeezed out of the remaining portion and this is done by usual knife means generally designated 42 which in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, comprises a rotary knife blade. The clam 10' is indicated in FIG. 7 with the liver removed.

An apparatus for treating articles, particularly sea foods such as clams 44, is indicated in FIGS. 8 to 17 and comprises a supporting base 46 which carries an upright stationary support or column 48 which rotatably supports a receiving table generally designated 50 having a plurality of individual areas 52 extending around the circumference thereof over which the individual clams are centered. The areas 52 (FIG. 9 and 10) are defined below corresponding clusters or assemblies of engagement members generally designated 54 which are supported on individual sector assemblies 56. These sector assem blies are mounted on a hub 58A for rotation about a stub shaft 58' mounted on the fitting 58 of stationary column 48 under the guidance of an overhead cam member or guide collar 60 which is mounted in a fixed position thereabove. The sector 56 is inclined at an angle to the table 50 so the individual clusters 54 may be moved during rotation between a lowermost fully engaged position indicated to the left of FIG. 8 and an uppermost fully disengaged position indicated to the right of FIG. 8.

The sector construction is to obviate the minor and major axes of a rigid disk construction. Each sector assembly 56 is provided with a cam grip 55 which is in constant engagement to follow a circular path under the guidance of the overhead cam member 60. As shown in FIG. 17 sector 56 is free to reciprocate on a rectangular portion 57' of the shaft 57 secured to hub 58A by a pin 57" (FIG. 8) thus compensating for the difference of the minor and major axes.

Each cluster 54 includes a plurality of individual engagement members or weight rods 62 which are vertically slidable in respective slots 64 of the sector assembly 56 and which are held against falling completely through the slots by roller fittings or tabs 66 afiixed to the upper ends of the individual rod 62 (see FIG. 13 and 14). The rods 62 are made of distinct length chosen in order to provide the engagement in the radial sequence indicated by the numbers in FIG. 4 when the rods are moved by rotation of sector assembly 56 from the uppermost position at the right of FIG. 8 to the lowermost position at the left. Also in the transverse direction this is true.

Rotation of the table 50 may be effected by suitable driving means (not shown) or by hand operation and this produces a simultaneous rotation of the sector members 56 by engagement of the connecting member or guide 68 of the table through a splined receiving opening of one of the sectors 56. The engagement guide 68 permits the upward and downward movement and the controlled location of the sector assembly 56 with respect to the table 50.

The weight rods 62 includes an upper portion 620' of threesixteenths three-fourths inch and a lower portion made of %-inch square stock. The rods are made of steel and they are approximately 3 feet in length. Each rod 62 is oriented in an associated slot 64 at a selected location for proper engagement with the clam 44. For example, the rods of a length corresponding to the first engagement with the clam in the areas 32 which are designated by the numerals I in FIG. 4, must be made longer than all of the others so that they engage the clam first. They must also be oriented to engage the clam at the proper location as indicated in FIG. 4, and for this purpose each row of rods is constrained in their associated slot 64 by means of stops 72 as shown in FIG. 13. The T-shaped stops 72 are made up of various lengths A (FIG. and are dropped fore and aft of each row of rods as shown in FIG. 13; thus orienting radially each row in the proper sequential order.

The operation of the device is as follows:

A clam 44 is positioned on the table 50 at the right-hand location where the clusters 54 are lifted off the table; and during the rotation of both the table 50 and sector assembly 56, the individual engagement rods 62 move downwardly as the associated portion of the sector assembly 56 moves through a downward are along with the rotational movement of the table 50. The longest of the rods 62 then engage the clam first and the rods are arranged in the cluster 54 such that the longest rods will engage in the areas numbered 1 outlined in FIG. 4. The engagement bore, in the embodiment shown, comprises merely the weight of the rod itself which is made, for example, to the weight of 1 pound, or the force may be provided by any biasing means such as a spring (not shown). When the rods are formed of equal weight, they engage the clam with uniform force over its entire engagement area and this permits a controlled engagement with a force which will not destroy any of the meat portion of the clam. Variations of the precise timing of the engagement of each rod may be effected by changing the length of the rods and for this purpose a rod such as a rod 73 indicated in FIG. 16 is made as a turn buckle with a threaded intermediate portion 74 which may be screwed into either end portion for the purpose of varying the total length of the rod.

When the cluster 54 together with the clam 44 arrives at the lowermost position indicated to the left of FIG. 8, the liver 18 will have been removed and it will drop off the inside of the table 50 into a collecting chute 76 and delivered onto a conveyor 78 for transfer for further processing. In some instances, it is necessary to sever the tissues connecting the liver 18 with the remaining portion of the clam 44 and for this purpose a rotary knife 42 is located at the liver drop off station. The cutter is driven by an electric motor 80 carried on a bracket 84 which is supported on the column 48.

The use of the method and the apparatus herein described for cleaning clams produces the following advantages over manual cleaning:

1. The removal of the liver is substantially complete with a constant higher quality of product.

2. Substantially none of the abdominal sac wall is lost with a corresponding increase in the yield of the clam meat.

3. It is only necessary for the operators to move the clams into a proper position on the table 50 and the subsequent cleaning is performed automatically. Little skill is required and an accurate and acceptable degree of proficiency is quickly obtained by inexperienced workers.

4. Since only relatively light digital contact is made with the clam by the engagement members 62, no injuries occur from cuts to the operating personnel due to contact with shell fragments.

5. Productivity of the worker is increased several times with a corresponding reduction of cost of the cleaning of the clams.

An alternate embodiment of the invention is indicated in FIGS. 18 and 19 which, includes the identical sector assemblies 56 but each sector is provided with a guide element 88 which ride in a vertical slot 90 thus each sector is constrained to follow at a point of its circular path a horizontal posture of its transverse elements. In other words any element B or C (FIG. 18) transversely at right angles to the radial will be constrained to parallelism by the cooperating elements 83 and 90. The only other difference from the sector assembly shown in FIG. 8 is that the portions 57" of pin 57 is now free to rock in sequence with the rotation of the sector assembly about the stub shaft 58. A retaining ring holds the shaft portion 57" securely in place in the hub 58A. In the arrangement shown in FIGS. 8 and 18 the active part of the complete circle of rotation is only one-half from the high portion to the low portion of the circle. It is therefore evident that with the proper cam, the sector assemblies 56 could be made to suddenly rise after reaching the low portion of the circle and thus enable a second clam to be placed on the return path. The up and down sequence would be entirely governed by the cam and not by any tilt of the axis as shown in the above arrangements. It is therefore evident that twice the number of clams could be processed in one complete revolution of the table.

What is claimed is:

l. A method of removing a portion of an article or material such as removing the liver portion from the remaining portions of a clam comprising applying a pressure force to the article at a plurality of locations around its surface initially at spaced locations from the portion to be removed and thereafter progressing toward the area to be removed to effect a squeezing out of the portion from the remainder thereof.

2. A method, according to claim I, using a plurality of separate engagement members for applying a pressure force to the article, and comprising moving an individual engagement member into pressure engagement with the article at the plurality of locations on its surface and progressively moving additional engagement members into engagement with the articles progressively toward the area to be removed in order to provide a squeezing out of this portion from the remainder.

3. A method, according to claim 2, wherein the individual engagement members are urged into engagement with the articles by the weight of the members themselves.

4. A method of removing a portion of an article, according to claim 1, wherein the pressure force is applied to the article, said article lying on a substantially horizontal surface, by means of individual movable members which are moved to contact the article at a plurality of locations about its periphery and progressively toward and over the portion to be removed.

5. A method, according to claim 1 wherein the article is a clam having a liver portion located between two muscles thereof, and having a lowermost portion extending beyond the liver and the muscle portions, comprising applying the pressure to the clam by engaging the clam in the lowermost portion and around the periphery of the clam adjacent the muscle portion initially and thereafter apply pressure in a direction toward the part thereof having the liver located between the muscle portions in order to force this part outwardly therefrom.

6. An apparatus for removing a portion of a body such as a clam comprising a support upon which the clam is adapted to be positioned, a plurality of engagement members mounted above said support and being movable toward and away from said support, said engagement members being arranged in a cluster and having areas overlying a portion of the article, said whole cluster encompassing at least a major portion of said clam and means for moving said engagement member to cause them to individually contact the clam, said engagement members being constructed and arranged such that some of them engage said clam ahead of the others, the engagement being such that the members apply a pressure force to said clam in a direction to squeeze a portion of the clam out from the remainder thereof.

7. An apparatus, according to claim 6, including knife means adjacent said table for cutting off the portion of the clam which has been pressed out by said engagement members.

8. An apparatus, according to claim 6, including a member mounting said engagement members for upward and downward movement, said engagement members comprising members having a predetermined weight urging them into a lowermost position in said mounting means, said mounting means being movable relative to the clam to move the engagement members thereon downwardly to engage said clam, said engagement members being of various lengths so that some of them engage said clam ahead of the others of said members during the movement of said mounting means.

9. An apparatus, according to claim 8, wherein said mounting means comprises a rotatable tilt disk, said disk being rotatable about an axis inclined from the vertical so that portions of said disk move upwardly and downwardly during each rotation thereof, said disk having means for supporting said engagement members for upward and downward movement thereon.

10. A method, according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of weight members are permitted to move by their own weight into engagement with the clam.

11. An apparatus for removing a portion such as the liver from a clam comprising a support table having at least one clam receiving area thereon, a tilt disk located over said table and being at a tilt angle in respect to said table, support means for rotatably supporting said table and said disk for rotation together, at least one cluster of engagement members supported on said disk above said clam receiving area, each said cluster including a plurality of engagement rods movable upwardly and downwardly in relation to said disk, some of said rods being of a length different from some of the others and all of said rods being of a length such that they engage with an aligned portion of the clam when they are moved by said disk toward said table by rotation of said disk, said rods being arranged in the cluster in accordance with their length to progressively engage the clam during the relative lowering movement of the associated portion of the disk relative to said table to cause a squeezing out of the liver thereof, and means for urging said engagement members into engagement with the clam.

12. An apparatus, according to claim 11, wherein said means for urging said rods into engagement with said clam comprises the weight of the members themselves said member being freely movable in said disk.

13. An apparatus, according to claim 11, including cutting means associated with said table located to sever the liver which is squeezed out from the clam.

14. An apparatus, according to claim 11, wherein said disk includes a plurality of slots, said rods being slidable vertically in said slots.

15. An apparatus, according to claim 14, including stop means for fixing said rods in a selected area in respect to said slots.

16. An apparatus, according to claim ll, wherein said'engagement rods comprise extensible rod members.

17. An apparatus, according to claim 16, wherein said rods each include a central threaded portion and at least one end portion which is threadedly engaged therewith for changing the length of said rod. 5

18. An apparatus, according to claim 11, wherein said mounting means for rotatably supporting said disk and said table include a spline member carried on said table and extending through said disk and permitting upward land downward movement of said disk but carrying said disk along during rotation of said table.

19. An apparatus, according to claim 11, wherein said mounting means includes a cam engaged with said disk and guiding said disk for tiltable rotatable movement.

20. An apparatus, according to claim 19, wherein said cam includes an upper cam engageable with said disk from the top thereof and a lower cam engageable with said disk from the bottom thereof.

21. A method for removing liver from a clam which has been separated from its shell which comprises:

a. placing the clam on a substantially rigid surface with the two muscles in a substantially horizontal plane and the liver disposed therebetween in such plane;

b. applying substantially uniform downward force on paid claim at areas thereof located away from the liver, :said force applied substantially over the entire upper surface of the clam progressively toward said liver and eventually over the normal locus of the liver while the liver is squeezed out of the clam and away from the force area. 

1. A method of removing a portion of an article or material such as removing the liver portion from the remaining portions of a clam comprising applying a pressure force to the article at a plurality of locations around its surface initially at spaced locations from the portion to be removed and thereafter progressing toward the area to be removed to effect a squeezing out of the portion from the remainder thereof.
 2. A method, according to claim 1, using a plurality of separate engagement members for applying a pressure force to the article, and comprising moving an individual engagement member into pressure engagement with the article at the plurality of locations on its surface and progressively moving additional engagement members into engagement with the articles progressively toward the area to be removed in order to provide a squeezing out of this portion from the remainder.
 3. A method, according to claim 2, wherein the individual engagement members are urged into engagement with the articles by the weight of the members themselves.
 4. A method of removing a portion of an article, according to claim 1, wherein the pressure force is applied to the article, said article lying on a substantially horizontal surface, by means of individual movable members which are moved to contact the article at a plurality of locations about its periphery and progressively toward and over the portion to be removed.
 5. A method, according to claim 1 wherein the article is a clam having a liver portion located between two muscles thereof, and having a lowermost portion extending beyond the liver and the muscle portions, comprising applying the pressure to the clam by engaging the clam in the lowermost portion and around the periphery of the clam adjacent the muscle portion initially and thereafter apply pressure in a direction toward the part thereof having the liver located between the muscle portions in order to force this part outwardly therefrom.
 6. An apparatus for removing a portion of a body such as a clam comprising a support upon which the clam is adapted to be positioned, a plurality of engagement members mounted above said support and being movable toward and away from said support, said engagement members being arranged in a cluster and having areas overlying a portion of the article, said whole cluster encompassing at least a major portion of said clam and means for moving said engagement member to cause them to individually contact the clam, said engagement members being constructed and arranged such that some of them engage said clam ahead of the others, the engagement being such that the members apply a pressure force to said clam in a direction to squeeze a portion of the clam out from the remainder thereof.
 7. An apparatus, according to claim 6, including knife means adjacent said table for cutting off the portion of the clam which has been pressed out by said engagement members.
 8. An apparatus, according to claim 6, including a member mounting said engagement members for upward and downward movement, said engagement members comprising members having a predetermined weight urging them into a lowermost position in said mounting means, said mounting means being movable relative to the clam to move the engagement members thereon downwardly to engage said clam, said engagement members being of various lengths so that some of them engage said clam ahead of the others of said members during the movement of said mounting means.
 9. An apparatus, according to claim 8, wherein said mounting means comprises a rotatable tilt disk, said disk being rotatable about an axis inclined from the vertical so that portions of said disk move upwardly and downwardly during each rotation thereof, said disk having means for supporting said engagement members for upward and downward movement thereon.
 10. A method, according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of weight members are permitted to move by their own weight into engagement with the clam.
 11. An apparatus for removing a portion such as the liver from a clam comprising a support table having at least one clam receiving area thereon, a tilt disk located over said table and being at a tilt angle in respect to said table, support means for rotatably supporting said table and said disk for rotation together, at least one cluster of engagement members supported on said disk above said clam receiving area, each said cluster including a plurality of engagement rods movable upwardly and downwardly in relation to said disk, some of said rods being of a length different from some of the others and all of said rods being of a length such that they engage with an aligned portion of the clam when they are moved by said disk toward said table by rotation of said disk, said rods being arranged in the cluster in accordance with their length to progressively engage the clam during the relative lowering movement of the associated portion of the disk relative to said table to cause a squeezing out of the liver thereof, and means for urging said engagement members into engagement with the clam.
 12. An apparatus, according to claim 11, wherein said means for urging said rods into engagement with said clam comprises the weight of the members themselves said member being freely movable in said disk.
 13. An apparatus, according to claim 11, including cutting means associated with said table located to sever the liver which is squeezed out from the clam.
 14. An apparatus, according to claim 11, wherein said disk includes a plurality of slots, said rods being slidable vertically in said slots.
 15. An apparatus, according to claim 14, including stop means for fixing said rods in a selected area in respect to said slots.
 16. An apparatus, according to claim 11, wherein said engagement rods comprise extensible rod members.
 17. An apparatus, according to claim 16, wherein said rods each include a central threaded portion and at least one end portion which is threadedly engaged therewith for changing the length of said rod.
 18. An apparatus, according to claim 11, wherein said mounting means for rotatably supporting said disk and said table include a spline member carried on said table and extending through said disk and permitting upward and downward movement of said disk but carrying said disk along during rotation of said table.
 19. An apparatus, according to claim 11, wherein said mounting means includes a cam engaged with said disk and guiding said disk for tiltable rotatable movement.
 20. An apparatus, according to claim 19, wherein said cam includes an upper cam engageable with said disk from the top thereof and a lower cam engageable with said disk from the bottom thereof.
 21. A method for removing liver from a clam which has been separated from its shell which comprises: a. placing the clam on a substantially rigid surface with the two muscles in a substantially horizontal plane and the liver disposed therebetween in such plane; b. applying substantially uniform downward force on said claim at areas thereof located away from the liver, said force applied substantially over the entire upper surface of the clam progressively toward said liver and eventually over the normal locus of the liver while the liver is squeezed out of the clam and away from the force area. 